My disc brake calipers have too much play. Is there a way to fix this?
My disc brake calipers have too much play. Is there a way to fix this?
byu/lastbenchboy inbikewrench
by lastbenchboy
My disc brake calipers have too much play. Is there a way to fix this?
My disc brake calipers have too much play. Is there a way to fix this?
byu/lastbenchboy inbikewrench
by lastbenchboy
12 Comments
My disc brake calipers have too much play. I tried tightening the cable, but it didn’t help. When I apply the brakes fully, I hear a click sound from the calipers. Due to this, handle brakes are touching the bar. Is there a way to fix this?
Sorry, if I couldn’t describe the problem well.
Here’s a through overview of cable disc brakes that’s worth reading to understand how pad wear and lever action are addressed. There’s a video within, as well:
https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help/mechanical-disc-brake-alignment
I know you said you did this but I would maybe try again? Unscrew the bolt on the lever for the cable. Push the lever so your brake is almost fully engaged, pull your cable taught and tighten your bolt. The lever should not have to travel less distance to start braking.
Disc brakes should never be adjusted through cable tension— only through pad and caliper position. Adjusting cable tension as you have has fatigued the spring in the caliper arm, resulting in a perpetuation of your issue. The click you are hearing is the sound of the caliper arm hitting the barrel adjuster.
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. You need a new brake caliper and proper education on how to adjust disc brakes properly. Park Tool has great instructional videos on YouTube.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news /:
Or get hydraulics and forget everything about adjusting mechanicals. Shimano M200 are cheap and work very well.
I own the same bike (triban rc 500) with the same brakes and had the same problem. You have to replace the pads and then readjust
Take a trip to your lbs. If looking it up online doesn’t help you then you aren’t helpable
Honestly we need to see more than this if you’re saying that tightening the cable doesn’t work. What condition are the pads in? Maybe show that in the video. How is your cable housing routed? We don’t see the lever, we don’t see the pads, and you say there’s a click when you apply the brakes in a comment; but that means nothing in the scheme of things if we can’t hear an example.
You likely have brake wear. Try adjusting the pad alignment by using a hex wrench on the drive side of the caliper to move the pad a bit closer in. Here’s a video: https://youtu.be/tvius1S506U?si=K0JJlWSagM7oLlq7
Those calipers are the WORST cable actuated disk brakes I’ve ever encountered. They’re also quite dangerous, since it’s possible that the mechanism that pushes the disk pad disengages under heavy braking.
Throw them away and get literally ANY brakes.
From the large amount of movement of the pad (seen by the red tell-tale) the pads are shot. It’s cheap to replace them, so do it. The disc itself looks ok. For the future, Promax are not great so I’d recommend replacing the calliper. If you want to stay with mechanical discs, go TRP Spyre or TRP HY/RD (hybrid mech/hydraulic).
Assuming you have material left on pads, then adjust caliper as follows.
Loosen brake cable, winding back all barrel adjusters
Loosen caliper mounting bolts
Wind in Allen key adjuster on back of caliper until both front and rear pads touch disc
Wind back until pads only just run free
Recenter caliper and tighten caliper mounting bolts
Adjust brake cable to suit